Valve-equipped container



Jan. 28, 1958 M. R. METZGER 2,821,338

VALVE-EQUIPPED CONTAINER Filed Oct. 21, 1954 United States Patent VALVE-EQUIPPED CONTAINER Melvin R. Metzger, Cincinnati, Ohio Application October 21, 1954, Serial No. 463,713 2 Claims. (or. 229-625) The present invention relates generally to valveequipped containers. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of container which is adapted primarily for use in merchandising a commodity and as its components or parts comprises: (1) a hollow body which is adapted to contain the commodity, is formed of flexible, fluid impervious, film-type material, and is closed throughout except for a small sized opening in one portion thereof; and (2) a tube-like check valve which is formed of comparatively thin, flexible, fluid impervious film, consists of two superposed, separately formed, coextensive members with the side margins thereof in opposed relation with one another and connected together, has the inten'or thereof in communication with the opening in the body, and is adapted when its members are spread apart to assume an open position wherein communication between the body interior and the ambient atmosphere is established and when the members thereof are pressed together into face contact with one another to assume a closed position wherein communication between the body interior and the ambient atmosphere is cut off.

One object of the invention is to provide a valveequipped container which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed containers of the same general type and is characterized by the fact that the check valve thereof is of simple and novel design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valveequipped container of the type and character under consideration in which the check valve is provided in its interior with a thin strip which is formed of non-heat scalable film material, extends across the opening in the check valve member that is nearer to the body, and forms an auxiliary flap type valve.

.A further object of the invention is to provide a valveequipped container of the aforementioned type in which the check valve is disposed exteriorly of the hollow body, permits the air within the body to be drawn through it in connection with so-called vacuum packing of the commodity in the body, and is adapted after evacuation of the air Within the body automatically to assume its closed position by the pressure of the ambient atmosphere.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a valve-equipped container which is generally of new and improved construction, effectively and efliciently fulfills its intended purpose, and is capable of being manufactured or produced at a low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present valve-equipped container will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more partic- Figure 1 is a perspective of a valve-equipped container embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating in detail the construction of the check valve and showing the manner in which the valve is connected to the opening defining portion of the hollow body;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the check valve showing the outermost member thereof partially separated from the innermost member in order to disclose the interior design or construction of the valve;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the opening defining portion of the body of the container; and

Figure 6 is a perspective of the strip which is disposed in the interior of the check valve, extends across the opening in the check valve member that is nearer to the container body, and forms an auxiliary flap type valve.

The container which is shown in the drawing cons'titutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is designed primarily for use in merchandising a commodity such as a perishable comestible and consists of but two parts, namely, a hollow body 7 and a check valve 8.

The body of the container is formed of flexible, fluid impervious, heat scalable, plastic film, such, for example, as Pliofilm, Koroseal or polyethylene and consists of a rectangular upper member 9 and a separately formed rectangular lower member 10. The two members are the same in size and are arranged in superposed and registering relation. The four marginal portions of the upper body member 9 are arranged in face contact with the subjacent four marginal portions of the lower body member 10 and are connected thereto by heat seals 11. It is contemplated that in fabricating the body 7 of the container, the upper and lower body members will be heat sealed together along only three of their marginal portions in order that there will be a marginal opening through which the commodity to be merchandised may be inserted into the interior of the body. It is also contemplated that after the commodity is inserted into the body, the fourth marginal portions of the upper and lower body members will be heat sealed in order to close the body. The body is closed throughout except for a small sized opening 12 in the upper body member 9. Such opening is located in the central portion of the upper body member and is preferably circular.

The check valve 8 of the container is located on top of the central portion of the upper member 9 of the body 7 and consists of a pair of elongated superposed coextensive members 13 and 14 and a comparatively small strip 15. The upper valve member is designated by the reference numeral 13 and the lower valve member is designated by the reference numeral 14. The two valve members 13 and 14 are comparatively thin and are formed of the same flexible, fluid impervious, heat scalable, plastic film as the upper and lower members 9 and 10 of the container body 7. The side margins of the upper and lower valve members 13 and 14 are in face contact with one another and are permanently connected together by comparatively wide heat seals 16. The latter are of uniform width from end to end and extend throughout the entire side margins of the upper and lower valve members. Certain adjoining end margins of the upper and lower valve members are in face contact with one another and are permanently connected together by a comparatively wide heat seal 17 which is of uniform width from end to end and has its ends joined to the adjacent ends of the heat seals 16. The other adjoining end margins of the upper and lower valve members 13 and 14 are open or not connected to one another in order that when the valve. is in, itshereinafter described open position, the interior ofthevalv'e is in communication with the ambient air or atmosphere. The lower valve member 14 rests on, and fits flatly against, the central portion of the'top surface of the upper body member 9. The portion of the lower valve member that is directly inwards of the heat seal 17 is provided with a circular opening 18. The latter is preferably of slightly greater diameter than the circular opening 12 in the central portion of the upper body member 9. It is in registering relation with the opening 12 and with the latter serves to establish communication between the interior of the check valve 8 and the interior of the body 7. The opening defining portion of the lower valve member 14 is in face contact with the opening defining portion of the upper body member 9 and is connected thereto by an annular heat seal 19. The check valve 8 is adapted when its members are separated or spread apart to assume an open position wherein it establishes communication between the interior of the body and the air or atmosphere around the valve. It -is also adapted when its members are pressed firmly together into face contact with one another to assume a closed position wherein it cuts off communication between the interior of the body and the ambient air.

The strip 15 is disposed between the upper and lower valve members 9 and 10 and is of such size and so located that it extends across the circular opening 18. It is formed of thin, flexible, non-heat scalable plastic film, such, for example, as cellophane and forms in effect an auxiliary flap type valve. Instead of being formed of cellophane or other non-heat sealable plastic film, the strip of the check valve 8 may be formed of any heat scalable plastic film which is different from, and not compatible with, the heat 'sealable plastic film of which the lower valve member 14 is made. For example, if the lower valve member 14 is formed of Pliofilm, the strip 15 may be formed of Koroseal, polyethylene or Saran as well as cellophane. When the check valve 8 is in its open position, the strip 15 is slightly raised with respect to the circular opening 18 and when the check valve is in its closed position the strip ex tends fully and tightly across the opening and forms a closure or seal therefor. The strip 15 has a two-fold purpose in that it functions not only as an auxiliary flap type valve but also serves as an insulator in connection with formation of the annular heat seal 19 between the opening defining portion of the lower valve member 14 and the opening defining portion of the upper body member 9. It is contemplated that in forming the heat seal 19, an annular electrically heated heating element (not shown) will be employed. As a preliminary to forming the annular heat seal 19, it is contemplated that the check valve will be positioned on the top surface of the body member 9 so that the circular opening 18 is in substantially concentric relation with the circular opening .12. Thereafter, the aforementioned element will be placed firmly against the portion of the upper valve member 13 that overlies the opening defining portion of the lower valve member 14. While the heating element is so positioned, it will serve to form the annular heat seal 19. In connection with formation of such heat seal, the strip 15 of non-heat scalable plastic film will serve to prevent the portion of the upper valve member that overlies the circular opening 18 from becoming heat sealed to the subjacent open ing defining portion of the lower valve member 14.

When avacuum or subatmospheric pressure is formed in the interior of the container body 7 the check valve 8 automatically assumes its closed position andprevents outside or ambient air from flowing into the body via the openings 18 and 12. The check valve when positioned as illustrated in the drawing and described in the present specification lends itself to a sci-called vacuum pack. In forming" such a pack, the container after the commodity has been inserted into the body 9 is placed in a vacuum chamber (not shown). When a vacuum is created in the chamber, the check valve automatically assumes its aforementioned open position with the result that air within the interior of the container body is evacuated. After the desired vacuum is created within the interior of th'e'body of the container, the vacuum in "the chamber is released. Upon "release of such vacuum the pressure of the air surrounding the check valve causes the check valve automatically to assume its -closed'po"sition 'wherein as previously pointed out the upper and lower valve members 13 and 14 are pressed flatly together. When it is desired to release the vacuum in the interior of the container body, the check valve is either opened by inserting a tubular element between the upper and lower valve members or it is jerked'away from the body so as to rupture or break the annular heat seal 19. When such heat seal is broken, air is permitted to "enter the interior of the con tainer body via' the small sized circular opening in the central portion ofthe upper body member 9.

The herein described valve-equipped container effectively antl e'thciently fulfills its intended purposeand due to the particular eon'struc'tion of its check valve may be produced-"at a comparatively'low cost. 7

Whereas the container has been illustrated and described a's "having the check valve disposed exteriorly of the body, it is to -'-be "understood that the check valve may be disposed interiorly of the container body. In such 'case, the check valve, when in its closed position due to the pie'ssiire ofwhateverfiuent material is in the container ihte'fidr, aer'ves to prevent egress of such material fro'rnthe cotitaiiier body. It is also to be understood that the invention is not "to be restricted to the particular details set forth since they may be modified Within the scope 'of the appendedclaim's without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a container comprising a hollow body formed of flexible, fluid impervious, heat scalable, plastic film and closed throughout "except for a small sized opening in one portion ther'edf, and a normally flat tubelike check valve positioned against said one portion of the body, embodying two elongated, superposed, separately formed, coextensive members of comparatively thin, flexible, fluid impervious, heat scalable, plastic film, having the side margins of its members in face contact with one another and connected together by heat seals, provided in the member thereof that is nearer to the body with an opening in registering relation with the opening in said one portion of the body, having the opening defining portion o f said member that is nearer to "the body in face Contact with, and connect'ed by a heat seal to, the opening defining portion of the body, and adapted when its members are spread apaft to assume an open position wherein communication is established between the interior of the body and the atribiefit air and when its members are pressed together to assume a closed position wherein communication of the body interior and said ambient air is cut off, said check valve also embodying a thin imperforate strip of flexible, fluid impervious, non-heat scalable film that is different from, and incompatible with, the film of which the valve members are formed, said strip being positioned between said two members and so that it extends across the second mentio ned opening, arranged so that it is wholly disconnected from said member that is nearer to the body, and adapted in connection with opening and closing of said check valve to move out of and into overlying arid seated relation with said second mentioned opening and forth an aiixiliaty flap type valve.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a container designed for use in merchandising a commodity and com-' prising a hollow body formed of flexible, fluid impervious, heat sealable, plastic film and closed throughout except for a small sized circular opening in one portion thereof, and a normally flat tube-like check valve positioned against said one portion of the body, embodying two elongated, superposed, separately formed, coextensive members of comparatively thin, flexible, fluid impervious, heat scalable, plastic film having the side margins of its members in face contact with one another and connected together by seat seals, having certain adjoining end margins of its members in face contact with one another and connected together by a heat seal, having the other end margins of its members open or disconnected, provided in the member thereof that is nearer to the body and directly inwards of the heat seal between said certain margins of the two members with a larger sized circular opening in registering relation with the opening in said one portion of the body, having the opening defining portion of said member that is nearer to the body in face contact with, and connected by a heat seal to, the opening defining portion of the body, and adapted when its members are spread apart to assume an open position wherein communication is established between the interior of the body and the ambient air and when its members are pressed together to assume a closed position wherein communication of the body interior and said ambient air is cut off, said check valve also embodying a rectangular and imperforate strip formed of comparatively thin, flexible, fluid impervious, non-heat sealable, film-type material, positioned between said two members and so that it extends across the second mentioned opening arranged so that it is wholly disconnected from said member that is nearer the body and adapted in connection with opening and closing of said check valve to move out of and into overlying and seated relation with said second mentioned opening and form an auxiliary flap type valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,362 MacSpadden Sept. 29, 1896 1,266,482 Kamrass May 14, 1918 1,534,984 MacDonald Apr. 21, 1925 2,301,479 Tousley Nov. 10, 1942 2,370,451 Dank Feb. 27, 1945 2,568,976 Andrews Sept. 25, 1951 2,697,229 Krueger Dec. 21, 1954 2,724,543 Bauer Nov. 22, 1955 

